CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida man accused of killing a crossing guard in a 2014 hit-and-run crash at a busy Clearwater intersection accepted a plea deal in court on Tuesday.
Julious Johnson is accused of running a red light at Gulf to Bay and Belcher Road in 2014 and killing 70-year-old Doug Carey.
In court, Johnson agreed to waive his right to a trial and accepted an 18-year sentence.
He wasn’t happy about the sentence and tried to reason and explain to the judge that he wasn’t a bad person and didn’t mean to kill Doug Carey.
“From the outside looking in, it tries to make it seem like I’m just on some intentional thing that happened. I feel sorry that this lady’s husband is gone but I can’t, you know what I’m saying, take him back. I ain’t intentionally do that. I feel like I’m coming in court and y’all looking at me like I woke up saying I’m gonna kill this Florida man or something,” said Johnson.
Carey had been a crossing guard in Pinellas County for four years. Before that, he was a member of the Clearwater Police Department for 22 years.
Police say Carey died instantly.
Red light cameras captured the entire incident. Police say the recording shows Johnson running the red light, hitting another car and then striking Carey. Police say he left the scene and even left his two daughters in the car.
Police eventually found and arrested Johnson.
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